Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1887-12-03
QUAINT Gio CHARITY.
How an Englishman Left heecr" o ~"
Hatred Of Lawyers.

Hatred Of Lawyers
The most striking features OF Koch
ester, afehitecturally speaking, are the
faff,rts old cathedral and castle, but it
has one small house 10 which curious
visitors at once turn their steps, u is
known as the Home OF the Poor
and is one of the most
unique charities In existence. 1he
bon,e has been restored since the days
of its founder, but still bears above 'hs
door this curious inscription cut In
stone slab!
RICHARD WATTS, ESQ.,
BY his will, dated u Aug. 1870,
Founded this Charity
TOR Six Poor Travellers,
Who not being kosyes or Proctors, may receive
gratis for ohc night
Lodging Entertainment, and -Four Pence eaeh.
Richard Watts, the founder. ~ss a
nian Of considerable property. and pre-
sumabiy ots ii,igioes disposition, ana
having suffered iadtf' dnring bis life az
the hands Of lawyers, tlcn styled proc
tors, contrved while making this char.
table bcquest to give lasting PROOF Oh
his enmity by chasing them with
rogues and excluding them forever
from participating in its benefits.
When this bequest was made the M
come was derived from land which
eventually became very valuable for
building purposes, and its revenue
| enormously increased. Charles Dick.
| ems computed that the poor received
about onc-thrticth Of the money *hiea
was their due, the rest being swai'
lowed up by lawyers and red tapery'
| This led to some investigation OF the
funds of the estate, and the London
Charity Commissioners strove to draw
Watts charity into its capaclous NAV,
but the citizens of Rochester stoutly
resisted, and the management now
rests in the hands Of life directors ap-
| pointed by the city. The Office though
gratuitous is very honorable.
A lamp formerly burned over the
door under which such poor travellers
AS were desirous Of the shelter within
were wont to congregate, but undel
the present system they betake them
selves TO the police station where ar
officer makes selection Of six, who, hav
| ing received their tickets, procced t
the house at six O'clock when they arr
conducted to y bath room and then t
their supper room. The intention o
the founder was to help honest working
men who were tramping from town u
town in the pursuement OF their ealing
and every care is taken to carry out HI
, purpose, to the exclusion of the genuin
tramp. TO each guest one pound G
cooked meat, one pound OF bread an
,, one pint of porter is served, each bein
of the bcst. No breakfast is given, BIT
, | any ohc is allowed to retain porto
;. of his allowance Until morning Afte
t supper they adjourn to a room iii tn
E rear, where they are at liberty to smok
: until they retire. This room is an AZ
Iii" made when the building WI
restored suuo yvnis aSu lh" ".'-.
and floors are of old oak, and, like II
;. beds and the entire house, are scfup
lousy clean. In the morning eaC
:. man records his name, address al
y business, and receives eight cents b
l, fore he departs. When inquiries a
r. made the addresses given are general
q found to be correct. In these old bool
- we also find interesting items shown
n that some who have visited the pla
ID as poor travellers have come again
Il. afllnence.
'e The visitors book contains the nam
ie of many illustrious people. Amo'
{, them is the striking signature
40 40 Charles Dickens, who laid here t
m m scene of one of his Christmas booL
an the "Seven Poor Travellers y
IT. Richard Watts did not forget t
rt fairer portion of humanity, several
'd whom lind u comfortable home in
VI almshouse supported from his esta
A certain number of them receive
comfortable income on the condltl
a that for so many days week til
an must 90 when called upon to nur
:" free of charge. such of the sick poor
bo m may ask for their services. Commo
,t Gus bath houses have recently be
)r. , built by the trustees out Of surp
a funds, where baths may be had a
gh swimming learned at nominal char
cd -RocheSter (Eng.) Cor. ~ J. san.